Commercial Pilot – SCUBA Dive Master - Adventurer – Photographer -

 Mayanist – Aviation Instructor - Activist

 

Lola Reid Allin

 

 

During my career in commercial aviation I piloted single- and multi-engine land and floatplanes acquiring nearly 6,000 hours of flight time. At Flight Safety International /DeHavilland I developed, supervised, and taught aviation Ground School & Flight Simulator Programs.  At the University of Waterloo I studied psychology, genetics, and  anthropology (Psychology 1987). 

 

Spurred by my appreciation of indigenous cultures, I relocated to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula (1993-96).  From homebase in Cozumel & Playa del Carmen, I traveled extensively throughout Mesoamerica, living with four different Maya groups in their homes: Mopan and K'ekchi, Belize; Northern Lacandon, Mexico; and Mam, Guatemala.  While commencing my longitudinal ethnographic study of K'ekchi, Mopan, and Lacandon Maya, I also acted as a guide at archaeological sites, an aviary, and the undersea world, an extension of my slide and lecture series. Now residing in Belleville, Ontario, Canada I return regularly to Belize and Mexico continuing my photographic journal of their lifestyles.

My lecture circuit continues in Canada with my images of the Modern Maya peoples and their ancient cities as well as images of nature, travel, and wildlife.  My volunteer work includes teaching (Guatemala, Kenya) and photographic documentation of medical missions (Kenya, Honduras).

Awards Include:                         

• "Ten ways to travel slower" (Verge Magazine 2011)
• "Getting Lost: The perils & the possibilities" (Verge Magazine 2011)
• "Is this kind of travel just for young people?" (Verge Magazine 2011)
•  Best Travel Photograph, Journey Category Verge Magazine 
•  Best Travel Photographic Essay, Canon Canada

Articles and photographs:

• National Geographic Society www.nationalgeographic.com
• The Globe and Mail
• The Toronto Star
• The National Post
• Verge Magazine: Travel with Purpose www.vergemagazine.com
• The Doctor’s Review www.doctorsreview.com
• FengSHe www.fengshe.org
• M.E.D.I.C.O. www.medico.org
• Mundo Maya Magazine 
• Go Abroad Fair www.studyandgoabroad.com   
• World Wildlife Fund - Canada www.wwf.ca
• WWF-CITMA,Cuba  www.medioambiente.cu
• African Culture Safaris, Tanzania
• Royal Expeditions, India
• Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders www.msf.ca

Masks of the Maya

Accompanied by explanatory text, this  photographic essay presents an exploration of ancient Maya symbolism, an expression of their worldview, revealed through artistic media displayed on structures and stelae. To order:  www.lola-photography.com

Her photographs can be viewed  online at this website shared with her son, Brandon Melton or go to www.lola-photography.com/brandon/bio.html .      

www.quinteartscouncil.org    www.fengshe.org  www.bellevilleart.ca